File It Under Nail Care in Chicago

For want of a nail, a pitcher was lost.

Pitcher Tom Candiotti has been in professional baseball since 1979, in the major leagues on and off since 1983.

But the cracked nail he suffered on his throwing hand in Saturday’s game, which forced him out after two innings, was the worst he had ever experienced.

It was so bad, Candiotti couldn’t find a manicurist skilled enough to repair it until Sunday morning.

But after getting the damaged area cut away, and receiving an application of glue and some polishing and smoothing, Candiotti told Manager Bill Russell he was available for Sunday if needed.

“My finger was really burning in the second inning,” said Candiotti, who must apply strong pressure with two of the fingers on his right hand to throw his knuckleball. “On the last pitch I threw, the whole nail had lifted.”

Trying to throw a knuckleball with a broken nail is like trying to play hockey with a broken skate.

For that reason, Candiotti has a manicurist he trusts in most National League cities. He didn’t have one in Chicago, but be assured, he will from now on.

*

The Dodgers aren’t looking forward to interrupting their important trip to make a 12-hour stopover in Cooperstown, N.Y., today to play the San Diego Padres in the Hall of Fame game.

But there will at least be some consolation if ace right-hander Ramon Martinez is able to pitch pain-free and effectively for six innings.

Martinez, who went on the disabled list in mid-June because of a tear in the rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder, will be making his third rehab start.

Russell wants give Martinez one more rehabilitation game after this.

“He needs to build that shoulder up,” Russell said.

The effectiveness of Candiotti, who is 4-2 as a starter, has kept the Dodgers from being tempted to hurry Martinez back.

*

Outfielder Wayne Kirby has given Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice-president, some credit for his return to the Dodgers.

When Kirby was put on waivers in May and not claimed, Claire gave him a pep talk.

Said Kirby: “He [Claire] told me, ‘Don’t go down with a chip on your shoulder. Don’t go down and just go through the motions. Go down and work hard and something may happen.’ ”

Something did happen. Outfielder Todd Hollandsworth broke a bone above his right elbow and Kirby is back.